90-year-old bodybuilder wins title day after a long time of sacrifice and unbelievable comeback
A 90-year-old Japanese bodybuilder has stunned fans by winning the 85-and-over class at the All Japan Masters in Hiroshima — just one day after his birthday – to claim a 17th Masters title
Toshisuke Kanazawa, a 90-year-old bodybuilder(Image: Getty Images)
A 90-year-old bodybuilder has proved age is no barrier to biceps after storming to victory at a major competition, just a day after celebrating his milestone birthday.
Toshisuke Kanazawa, who has spent nearly seven decades around the sport, achieved his long-held aim of competing at 90 by winning the 85-and-over category at the All Japan Masters Fitness Championships in Hiroshima, Japan.
The historic win came on Sunday (August 30), exactly one day after Kanazawa turned 90, cementing his status as Japan’s oldest competitive bodybuilder. The annual veteran event was staged in his hometown of Hiroshima and drew around 200 athletes aged 41 to 90, competing across 13 age brackets.
Toshisuke Kanazawa, a 90-year-old bodybuilder (3-R), gestures after wining the Men’s Aged 85 Years and Over category during the All Japan Masters Fitness Championships on August 30, 2026 in Hiroshima(Image: Getty Images)
Kanazawa faced six rivals in the 85-and-over division. After a synchronised preliminary round, he brought the crowd to a roar with his individual one-minute free-posing routine, clinching what was reported as his 17th Masters championship title.
Kanazawa’s story is also a remarkable tale of longevity, and a romantic comeback, Oxcloth reported. He began as a competitive swimmer before taking up bodybuilding at 20.
His early success was rapid: he won the prestigious Mister Japan title twice, at ages 24 and 27, before retiring from competition at 34. After stepping back from the sport entirely for 16 years, he returned to intense training at 50 in a bid to motivate and encourage his wife, who was prone to illness.
Kanazawa is Japan’s oldest competitive bodybuilder(Image: Getty Images)
His approach to staying lean is famously strict. Kanazawa gave up meat and fish decades ago and keeps himself in contest shape with a clean diet based around brown rice, fermented soybeans (natto), eggs and miso soup. After the win, he told reporters: “Every year the wrinkles increase and my strength decreases.
“Overcoming that with effort is my way of living.” He is said to be continuing his training and chasing world records.
In an Instagram caption celebrating the result, Kanazawa wrote: “Achieved my 17th national title! Thanks to everyone’s support, I was able to secure my 17th championship victory, including 15 Japan Masters titles (and 2 Japan Championship titles).
He become a 19-time bodybuilding champion(Image: Getty Images)
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude, as this is all thanks to everyone’s incredible support and various efforts. Next, I am scheduled to compete in the Japan Championships on October 6th, so I appreciate your continued support.
“Thank you very much.” Jim Arrington has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest competitive professional bodybuilder.
Born on September 1, 1932, the American great-grandfather is now 94 and is still training regularly and stepping onstage in professional masters events.
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